Laundry machinery



Feb. 19, 1935. .c. HUBBl-:LL 1,991,803

LAUNDRY MACHINERY Filed'OCt. 9, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Feb. 19, 1935. H.c. HuBBELL LAUNDRY MACHINERY Filed Oct. 9, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V ENTOR.`

A TTORNE Y.

Feb. 19, 1935. H. c. HUBBELL 1,991,803

LAUNDRY MACHINERY Filed Oct. 9, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN V EN TOR.'

A TTORNE Y.

Feb. 1 9, 1935. H. c. 'HUBB'ELL 1,991,803

LAUNDRY MACHINERY Filed Oct. 9, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.'

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ATTORNEY.

Feb. 19, H. C. HUBBELL LAUNDRY MACHINERY 5 sheets-'sheet 5 Filed Oct. 9,1930 ATTORNEY.

'atenei ab; 19, i935 l 1,991,803

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LAUNDRY MACHINERY Harvey C. Hubbell,Cincinnati, Ohio, assigner to August F. Hcrbsleb, Cincinnati, OhioApplication October 9).,1930, Serial No. 487,531 i 4 Claims. (Cl.6818v)` It is the object of my invention to provide novel cleansingliquid through the closely packed mameans whereby material may belaundered in terial of said batches. comparatively compact masses and insuch man- It is the object of my invention, further, to pro- A ner thatthe mass of material being cleansed is vide a rotor having goodscompartments arranged 5 caused to move speedily in a cleansing bath forin novel manner about the axis of the rotor and 5 causing the cleansingliquid to be urged or pushed 1 passages between said goods compartmentsservforcefully through the material being cleansed, ing as channels forthe cleansing liquid; further, and in such passage to loosen and absorband to provide the outer peripheral portions of said carry with it thesoilin the material; whereby goods compartments with indentationscommufurther a plurality of such masses of material are nicating withsaid goods .compartments for pass- 10 separated from each other bypassages preferably ing cleansing liquid into said goods comparthavingperforated walls, and are caused to rotate ments through saidindentations; further, to proabout a common axis so that said respectivevide goods compartments of the character menmasses of material aresuccessively located above tioned side by side extending lengthwise ofthe each other for draining the cleansing liquid thereaxis of rotationof the rotor; and, further, to l5 from into Said passages and int-,0 themasses of provide a reservoir for the rotor for receiving material belowthe same, for providing said recleansing liquid and so arranged withreference spective masses of material with continuous'supto the rotor asto cause surging of the cleansing ply of cleansing liquid, and forcingsaid cleansing liquid through the material. -v 2o liquid through thematerial being cleansed; and It iS the Object Of my inVentiOn, further,to pro- 20 whereby, further, the cleansing liquid is forced vide a novelrotor in'a machine of the character outwardly through the mass oflmaterial by cendescribed; further, to provide novel relation betrifugalforce in the cleansing operation tween parts of the rotor and thecomplemental The term material includes clothes, sheets, Wall 0f thereservoir; further, t0 provide novel napkins, blankets and any and allother articles means fOr mounting the 101201; and, further, t0 25 ofpersonal or household Wear of fabric and other DIOVifie HOVel means f01IOia'ing the IOOI and structure, and waste, wiping cloths and other ar-Controlling itsrotations.

ticles, such asY are usually laundered or cleansed It iS i311e Object 0fmy iuVeniOn, further, t0 in a power washing or cleansing machine; theprovide such relation between the material being terms laundry andlaundering include dry cleancleansed and the cleansing liquid as toaccelerate 30 ing; and the term cleansing liquid includes wathecleansing of the'material and permit such ter and detergents or othercleansing substances Cleansing t0 be aCCOmplished with less cleansing aswell as volatile cleansing agencies. liquid than by usual presentmethods and mech- Itis the object of my invention further to proanisms,the Operation of my improved device vide novel means whereby torotatively pass the demonstrating, for example, that substantially 35material through a cleansing bath and in novel three times as much ormore material may be manner to mechanically force substantialporcleansed within a shorter time and with substantions of the baththrough the material, and to tially one-third the amount of cleansingliquid cause reversals of movements of the material at or detergents foran equal -amount of material 40 short intervals for frequently changingthe direccleansed as compared with the most emcient of 40 tions in whichthe cleansing fluid is forced other present methods and mechanisms.through the material.- A My present invention is an elaboration of theIt is the object oi' my invention, further, to promethod and mechanismshown, described and vide novel means whereby to move a plurality ofclaimed in my copending application on improvemasses of such materialabout a substantially mentsnlaundry machinery and method of laun- 45horizontal axis-and to provide passages between dering, Serial N0.367,368, filed in the United said masses of material to cause drainageof said States Patent Office May 3l, 1929. l masses of material from andinto said passages, The invention will be further readily underand,further, across said passages, upon` masses Stood from the followingdescription and claims,

of material therebelow, during rotations of said and from the drawings,in which latter: 50 masses of material. Fig. 1 is a front elevation ofmy improved de- It is the object of my invention, further, to proviceshowing a door of the casing open for exvide novel means whereby to moveclosely packed posing the rotor therein, and a door of the rotorseparated batches of material through the cleanspartly open for exposingthe material being ing liquid at high peripheral speed for surging thecleansed. 55

Fig. 2 is an end view of the same, partly broken away.

Fig. 3 is a cross-section of the same, taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1,but showing the doors closed.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal axial section of the same, on the line 4-4 ofFig. 1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional detail view, showing the relation of thedoors, taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is detail view in cross-section, showing sliding means for thedoors.

Fig. 7 is a front detail view of the latching means for the doors of thecasing; and,

Fig. 8 is a detail sectional view showing holes in the arcuate wall ofthe rotor.

A reservoir for the cleansing liquid comprises a trough 21 which is partof a casing 22. The trough is arcuate in cross-section, being shown asthe sector of a cylinder, the casing being preferably cylindrical andconcentric to the outer periphery'of a rotor 23. Trunnions 24 extendfrom the respective ends of the rotor and are journaled in bearings 25of end walls 26, shown as part of the casing. The end Walls have legs27, intermediate legs 28 being secured to the cas- The trunnions arefixed in hubs 29 of spiders 30 at the respective ends of the rotor.

Sheets 31 are secured to the respective spiders, preferably at theirinner sides.

The wall 35 of the casing' preferably forms the sector of a cylinder andextends throughout the length of the casing, being secured at itsrespective ends to flanges 36 of the end Walls 26, as by rivets, forminga water-tight joint therewith. (Fig. 4). The casing is provided withdoor openings 37 arranged to be closed by doors 38. (Figs. 1 and 5). Thecasing is provided with an arcuate guide 39 on each of the end walls 26,and with an intermediate arcuate guide 40. Each of these guides isprovided with a guide groove, the guide 40 being provided withoppositely opening guide grooves. The guide grooves for each door arepresented toward each other. The upper and lower ends of theintermediate arcuate guide are rigidly connected with the casing.Y Therespective ends of the doors are provided with arcuate tongues 41received in arcuate guide grooves in the respective arcuate guides atthe respective ends of the doors. (Fig. 6).

The lower end of the door has a tongue 42 extending lengthwise thereofreceived in a groove 43 in a cross-brace 44, said groove extendinglengthwise of said cross-brace. (Fig. 5). The upper end of the dooroverlaps the upper wall of the door opening 37 and has suflicientlytight joint therewith to avoid spilling of the bath therethrough whenthe door is closed. (Fig. 3)

Each of the doors is provided with an extension 51, an opening 52 inwhich is arranged to be closed by a flap 53. This extension has a handle54 thereon for moving the door. The ap 53 may be opened for observationof the operation of the machine, and for the insertion of detergents orcleansing substances. (Figs. 1, 3 and 5).

Each of the trunnions is provided with a gear 56 xed thereon. Endhousings 57 are received about these gears. i These end housings aresecured to the end walls, as by bolts received through flanges 58 onsaid housings and threaded into said end walls. (Figs. 1, 2 and 4) Theseend housings may form lubricant reservoirs for receiving lubricant inthe lower portions thereof,

of liquid or lubricant between said reservoirs.

A shaft 61 extends lengthwise of the casing v and is journaled inbearings 62 in upward extensions 63 of the end plates and in bearings-64 on a stand 65, supported on beams 66 extendf ing lengthwise of themachine between the end walls. (Figs. 1,2 and 3). f

'Pinions 71 fixed to this shaft mesh with intermediate gears 72 xed to ashaft 73 journaled in the upward extensions, the gears 72 meshing withthe gears 56. The housings 57 are provided with upward extensions 74 inwhich said pinions and intermediate gears are located. (Fig, 2).

An electric motor 75 is mounted on the frame. A pinion 76 on the shaft77 of said motor meshes with a gear 78 on the shaft 61. This motor ispreferably a reversing motor for rotating the shaft in oppositedirections. (Fig. 1).

A brake 8l is provided which is exemplified as comprising a pulley 82xed to the shaft 77 and brake-shoes 83 received about said pulley.(Figs. 1 and 3). One end of each of said brake-shoes is anchored on ashoulder-screw 84 in an arm 85 of a bracket 86 on the stand 65. Theother ends of the brakel-shoes 'are normally urged toward each other bya. spring 87 about a bolt 88 passing through lugs 89 of the brake-shoesand having a nut 90 thereon, the spring being located between one ofsaid lugs and said nut for normally clamping said brake-shoes on saidpulley 82.

An eccentric 91 is journaled in a bearing 92 on the other arm 93 of thebracket 86, said eccentric being provided with an armactuated in mannerhereinafter described for applying and releasing the brake.

The material containing rotor 23 is preferably rotated at substantialspeed and is rotated a given number of revolutions in one direction,whereupon its direction of rotation is reversed and the rotor rotatedfor a given number of revolutions in the opposite direction, whereuponthe rotor is again reversed for rotating in the first direction. Thespeeds of rotation are preferably high and the reversals occur at shortintervals. For instance, assuming a material containing rotor of adiameter of fifty-four inches, the said rotor is caused to rotate twentyrevolutions per minute, including time lost in reversals and speed lostat the beginning and end -of each direction of rotation, the rotorrotating for instance in steps of four revolutions in each direction, atthe end of each of which steps reversal takes place. The effectiveperipheral speed of the rotor may be instanced as in a range of threehundred and fifty to four hundred and fty feet per minute, although myinvention is not limited to such speeds.

Means are provided whereby rotation of the rotor is automaticallycontrolled -in steps of a plurality of rotations alternately in reversedirections for normal operation of the machine, during which the brake81 is out of action, and whereby further rotation of the rotor may becontrolled by a manually controlled switch for rotating the motor in asingle direction and only while the manual switch is held closedmanually, for socalled inching of the rotor, as when positioningthe'rotor for coincidence of its various doors with the door of thecasing for loading and unloading the compartments, or for attention inother respects.

A control lever 101 is provided. The brake is preferably in brakingrelation while the control lever is in neutral position, that is, whilethe rotor is neither under automatic control nor under inching control,for holding the rotor stationary. The brake is moved into releaserelation by the manual movement of the control lever foreither'operation of the machine. (Figs. 1 and 2).

The control lever is pivoted on a stud 102 in the end wall 26, andcomprises a bell-crank arm 103. This bell-crank arm is articulatedy at104 with a link 105, articulated at 106 with an arm 107 extending from arock-shaft 108. This rockshaft has an arm 109 thereon, which isarticulatedat 110 with a link 111, articulated at 112 with an arm 113iixed on a rock-shaft 114 of a control-box 115 in which the switches forcontrolling the rotations of the motor are located. (Figs. 2 and 3).

An arm 118 on the rock-shaft 108 is articulated with a link 119, in turnarticulated with the arm 120 for operating the cam 91'i'or controllingthe brake-shoes.

The lever 101 has a pawl 121 pivoted thereto, operated by aspring-pressed plunger 123 in the lever articulated with the pawl. Thepawl is received in the tooth spaces of a rack 124 for positioning thelever. When the lever is in neutral position, as exemplied in Fig. 2,the brake (Fig. 3) is in clamped relation, with the cam 91 in neutralposition between the brake-shoes. When the lever 101 is moved in eitherdirection out of neutral position, the cam 91 is rotated for releasingthe brake-shoes.

When the lever 101 is moved toward the right in Fig. 2, and the pawl isengaged with the right hand notch out of neutral, the switches in theswitch-box 115 are so'placed that the motor will rotate andautomatically reverse in steps of a given number of revolutions. This isthe relation of the parts for usual operation of the machine.

If, on the other hand, the lever 101 is moved toward the left, viewed inFig. 2, and the pawl 121 is engaged with the notch toward the left, thenthe switches in the switch-box 115 are arranged for opening the switchesfor usual or reverse rotations of the motor, and the switches in theswitch-box 115 are arranged for closing a switch in a partial circuitarranged to be closed by another manually controlled switch 125,controlled by a button 127 for closing the circuit of the motor, forrotating the motor in one direction only as long as the last-namedswitch 125 is manually maintained closed. l (Figs. 1 and 2).

The pressing of the button 127 on the front portion of the housing 57closes said manually controlled switch only as long as said button isheld pressed by the operator. This control is for positioning the rotorin its casing, i. e., inching the' rotor. v

Means are also provided whereby operation of the switches for theelectric motor other than for manual control is prevented while eitherof the doors of the casing is in unclosed relation. 'I'hus each of thedoors is provided with a contact-part 131. (Fig.3). A rock-shaft 132 isjournaled in bearings 133 in one of the beams 66, and has obstructingarms 134 xed thereto, there being one of these obstructing arms for thecontact part on each of the doors in the casing. A link 135 isarticulated with the obstructing arm the material being cleaned.

and with an arm 136 on the rock-shaft 108. There is one of theseobstructing arms, links and arms 136 for each of the doors.

Each of these obstructing arms is provided with a latch 137, whichengages the contact part on its door when the door is closed and themanipulating handle 101 is in position for automatic rotations of therotor.. This control lever must be first placed in neutral position orin position for inching control of the rotor before the door can beopened.` The handle 101 and the latch 137 are respectively shown inneutral positions in Figs. 2 and 3.

Placing such lever in neutral position moves the latch 137 upwardly outof range of the contact part 131 onthe door, so;as to permit opening ofthe door. This contactl part extends throughout an angle of the doorequal to the angle of movement oi.' the door in opening the same. sothat immediately upon the beginning `o1' opening movement of the door,the contact part of the door moves under the latch 137 and remains underthe latch throughout the balance of movement of the door, so as tomaintain said latch in obstructed relation and prevent return of thecontrol lever 101 into operative position for reverse rotations of therotor during open relation of either door oi the casing.

When the manipulating lever 101 is moved in the opposite direction, tothe left in Fig. 2, for manual control of the rotor by means of theswitch 125, the latch is raised further, and the doors of the casing maybe opened, and the rotor rotated under inching control.

'I'he rotor 23 comprises a plurality of compart- Aments 141 arrangedradially about the axis of rotation of the rotor, three of thesecompartments being shown. Radial passages 142 are located between theradially arranged compartments. These passages extend lengthwise of theaxis of rotation of the rotor and preferably separate the compartmentsfrom each other. They are shown converging toward the axis of the rotor.(Figs. 3' and 4).

If desired, a number of such radially arranged compartments may belocated side by side in the rotor, four of such compartments beingexempliiied at a, b, c and d.

' Each of the compartments has an outer peripheral arcuate wall 143, andan arcuate outer opening 144, arranged to be closed by an arcuate door145. There is an indenting wall 146 located in this outer periphery forforming a recess 147 in said outer periphery extending lengthwise of theaxis of rotation of the rotor between said arcuate wall 143 and saidarcuate opening 144. This indenting wall forms a rubbing rib for (Figs.1, 3 and 5). There is an arcuate bar 151 at each end of each of thecompartments, formed up out of layers of metal and provided with anarcuate groove 152 at each end of each of the compartments, thesearcuate grooves of each compartment facing each other and formingguideways for the outer edges of the arcuate doors, these outer edgesbeing formed as arcuate tongues 153 received in said arcuate grooves(Figs. 1 and 5).

The lower margin 155 of each of the openings opening, the hook beingreceived about said flange when the door is closed. (Fig.

The door is provided with a latch 161- at each of its sides comprising abolt 162 movable in a slot 163 in the door and received in either oflocking slots 164, 165, in the side wall of the door opening. (Figs. 1and 7).

The locking slot 164 is in position for holding the door closed. Thelocking'slot 165 is in position for holding the door open.

A handle 166 is pivoted on a pin 167 and has articulating connectionwith the latch, the handle normally being within a recess 168 in the ldoor, when the door is in open relation, the bolts l 162 areautomatically received in the locking said lock or latch, the latch`being normally urged I into closing position by a spring 169 betweenthe wall of said recess and the latch or handle.

When the door is to be raised for opening thai compartments, the fingersof the operator will be placed under the handle 166 for Vraising thehandle and thereby unlatching the lock, further exertion of the operatorin similar direction on the handle opening the door. Upon release of thehandles 166 at the respective ends of the slots for maintaining the dooropen.

If it is desired to close the door, the operator places his fingersonthe upper face of the handles 166 and presses downwardly, whereby thelatch is opened, further downward pressure on the handles closing thedoor. Upon release of the handles, the bolts 162 areautomaticallyreceived in the locking slots 164 for locked position ofthe door.

vThe material containing rotor comprises crossplates, instanced as theend plates 31, and intermediate plates 171. The end plates and theintermediate plates preferably extend throughout the cross-sectionalarea of the rotor 23. (Fig. 4)

Each of the nest of radially arranged compartments comprises a portionof one of the crossplates at each end thereof. Each compartment alsocomprises inner walls 172 formed by plates. (Figs. 3, 4 and 5).v Theseplates are arranged at acute angles with relation to each other, theangle ci the compartment preferably extending to substantially the axisof rotation of the rotor. The proximate plates between neighboringcompartments form the radial spaces 142 which form passages between saidradially arranged compartments.

Angle strips 173 are fixed respectively to the end Wall and to therespective plates 172, for xing the latter plates in the rotor. (Figs.3, 4 and 5) An angle strip 174 is fixed to the inner ends of the plates172, and extends throughout the length of the compartment forstrengthening the rotor at the inner angle of the compartment. The outerends of the plates 172 are pro` vided with flanges 175, fixed tov theouter wall of the compartment.

The inner faces of the plates 172 are provided with ribs 181 formed bybending sheet metal strips with a central curvature extending into thecompartment and with flanges 182 extending lengthwise of said ribs xedto the inner faces of the plates 172. These ribs extend into theradially arranged compartments and form rubbing ribs for the materialtherein. (Figs. 3 and 4).

The spaces 142 preferably connect with each other at the middle portionof the rotor 23, by

a free space 184, preferably forming continuous and diverging passagesextending radially and angularly with relation to each other between theaxis and the` outer periphery of the rotor, the free space'184connecting said spaces 142 across said axis. (Figs. 3 and 4). Thesespaces form passages for the cleansing liquid.

The Walls of said compartments are preferably formed of sheet metal, andthe metal parts of the rotor and of the casing contacted by cleansingliquid are preferably of rust resisting and acid resisting metal forresisting action thereon by the cleansing liquid.

The margins of the metal sheets of the rotor are secured together insuch manner as to form a rigid rotor capable of great resistance totortional strains and to beating actions by the clothes and thecleansing liquid and the rotor is preferably supported by trunnionsextending outwardly from the end walls of the rotor, for leaving theinterior of the rotor free of central obstruction for freedom of thepassage of cleans- 5), forming additional means for the passage of thecleansing liquid into and through the material.

The angular walls 172 are also preferably pro-4 vided with perforations'185.

The ribs 181 are provided with similar perforations, the perforations inthe plates 172 extending under these ribs, so as to permit passage ofcleansing liquid through the ribs and walls. (Figs. 4 and 5). Theperforations 185 are holes, the margins of the holes being preferablyformed with outwardly extending flanges 186, extending outwardly fromthe compartment. (Fig. 8). The flanges are rounded at their inner endsand strengthen said walls and form rubbing surfaces over which thematerial is moved in the cleansing operation.

The passages 142 are preferably wider'than the width of the arcuatespace 188 between the outer periphery of the rotor and the wall of thetrough 21. (Figs. 3, 4, and 5).

This has the effect, when the rotor is rotating, of crowding theIcleansing liquid for resisting movement with the rotor, for causing asurge of the cleansing liquid in the trough and into and through thematerial being cleansed, the tendency of gravitybeing to return saidcleansing liquid to thev bottom of the trough. lThe radial passages inturn form relief areas for said cleansing liquid, and cause thecleansing liquid to rush into said passages, due firstly to the rotationof the rotor tending to cause the cleansing liquid to move Vin thedirection of rotation of the rotor and the resistance of the liquid tosuch movement, and, secondly, to the weight of the cleansing liquidcausing its inrush into the ascending passage.

Such action upon the cleansing liquid also causes the cleansing liquidto be forced through the holes in the advancing wall and in the outerperipheral wall of the advancing compartment against vand through thematerial therein. The inrush of said cleansing liquid into the radiallyarranged compartment and the material therein is aided by the peripherallongitudinally extending recess 147, the walls of which extend into thecompartment for directing the cleansing liquid into the compartment.

The advancing walls of the passages and of the recesses also form scoopsfor scooping the cleansing liquid in their ascent and causing inwardmovement of the cleansing liquid.

The material is closely packed lin 'the compartments. This material isrepresented at 190 in Figs. 1 and 3 as laundry in usual net bags. InFig. 3 but one of the compartments is shown filled with the material, itbeing understood that in operation all the compartments are so filled.The 4 rotation of the rotor at high speed causes forceful surge of thebath into the compartments and through the closely packed materialtherein, The material is thereforesubjected to the forceful surge of thecleansing liquid from all directions during its movement in the lowerportion of its path, the surge and weight of the bath causing the bathto permeate all portions of the charge of material in the rotor. Theforce and weight of the liquid causes it to soak and pass rapidlythrough the material for loosening and carrying with it the soil thatmay be in the material.

As a compartmentmoves upwardly in its paththe excess liquid will, due toits surge and gravity, pass out of the inner portion of the compartmentand descend through the angular space between compartments, and as thecompartment moves toward the upper portion of its path, the liquid willdrain across the axial space between the compartments and flow along thedepending radial space and into the material in the compartment orcompartments therebelow. A maximum amount of passage of the cleansingliquid through the material is thereby obtained, the cleansing liquidbeing forced through the midst of the closely packed material so as topenetrate `and iiow through its pores, carrying the soil with it out ofthe material.

The cleansing liquid is further forced through the material, especiallyat the peripheral portions of the rotor, by centrifugal action, stillfurther aiding in the cleansing action.

During the rotations of the rotor, further, the mass of material beingcleansed drops in its compartment when the compartment nears the upperportio of its path and when it returns toward the bottom of its path,causing violent contact between the saturated mass and the walls of thecompartment which squashes .or ejects the liquid violently through andout of the material.

A rubbing between the mass of material and the walls and its ribs andindentations also takes place, aiding in the cleansing operation.

In my improved device the movement of the material takes place withouttwisting or unduly torsionally straining the material, whereby thecleansing takes place without detriment to the fabric or injury to thematerial. i

The imperforate lend walls of the compartments compelthe cleansing fluidin each of said compartments to perform its full action without enddissipation, and retain the cleansing liquid in its divisions lengthwiseof the rotor, and compel the cleansing liquid to take paths crosswise ofthe rotor and its axis, for maximum cleansin effect.

The heavier particles of the soil will descend to the bottom of thecasing and be received in extensions 191 in the lower portion of thewall of the casing, each of the extensions being provided with a valve192 having connection with the rockshaft 193 having suitable operatingmechanism connected therewith for automatic and for manual control ofsaid valves. (Figs. 1 and 3).

The valves are opened at the end of each washing, rinsing, blulng, orother period in the cleans- .ing operation, for discharging the bathinto a gutter 194, whence it iiows to a recovering receptacle or wastepassage, a fresh bath being provided. These steps may take placemanually or automatically.

A feed pipe 196 is provided with branches 197 communicating with theinterior ofthe casing for charging thecasing with a suitable bath. (Fig.3). The feed pipe may have suitable connection with suitable supplypipes, one of which is shown at 198 provided with a valve 199. Asuitable number of such supply pipes may be provided for feeding hotwater, cold water, rinsing water, bluing water, and other ingredientsfor the bath,`into the casing.

A control box 201 contains mechanism operated by a sprocket chain 202and sprocket wheels 203, 204, and has suitable connections, forcontrolling the baths and the durations of periods of automaticoperation of the machine or intervals between baths. The durationsbetween said intervals is determined by the setting of an indicatorfinger 205. (Figs. 1 and 3).

Suitable automatic electrically controlled reversing mechanism isprovided for operating the electric motor intermittently in reversedirec'- tlons for causing the reversals of rotations of the rotor 23.(Fig. 1). 'I'hese electrical control means may be of suitableconstruction and arrangement and be contained in an automatic reversalcontrol box' 207, in which suitable partial circuits and switches arecontained for effecting such automatic reversals, these partial electriccircuits being complemental to the switches in the control box 115, whenthe operating lever 101 is moved to the right in Fig. 2 for placing themachine under automatic reversal control.

In practice, when loading the rotor 23, the door 38 of the casing isopened, and the doors 145 of |one of the battery of radially arrangedcompartments are brought into registry therewith by rotation of therotor 23, as by causing inching movement of the rotor by means of themotor 'l5 by manipulation of the inching button 127, operating theinching switch in the electric circuits of the motor.

The doors 145 are then opened, and the ma.- terial placed in thecompartments with which they connect. This material may for instance bein net bags or in separated batches.

In my improved device it is possible to compactly fill the compartmentswith the material, in fact, practice has shown that it is possible tosupply a rotor of given cubic contents with in excess of three times theamount of material to be cleansed than it is possible to load rotors ofsimilar cubic contents in machines now in general use, and to cleansethe same in less time than it now takes to cleanse a smaller charge ofmaterial in rotors of machines now in general use.

In my improved device the successive radially arranged compartments aresuccessively vcompactly filled, the respective doors thereof closed andlatched when filled, and the doors 38 of the casing closed when therotor has been loaded.

A suitable amount of cleansing liquid is supplied in the cleansingreservoir. I have found inches, need be illled with the cleansing liquidfor performing the cleansing operation, assuming that the material hasbeen soaked with the cleansing liquid by rotation of the rotor.

As the rotor rotates, the compactly arranged material is mechanicallyforced. through the cleansing liquid as hereinbefore stated, thecleansing liquid in consequence being mechanically forced through thematerial, with the benecial results stated. l

The upwardly advancing walls of the passages 142 and of the recesses 147also act as scoops for scooping the cleansing liquid, and causing thesame to move into said passages and indentations along the wallsthereof, and through the holes therein, aided by the gravity action onthe raised cleansing liquid raised by the rotation of the rotor, gravitycausing a backward surge of said liquid into the recesses andindentations for passing therealong and entering the holes therein intocontact with the material. The cleansing liquid is also caused to surgeinto the outer peripheral walls of the rotor acting to move thecleansing liquid as stated.

This action causes the cleansing liquid to surge ,into the compartmentsand through the material for cleansing the same and to provide thematerial in a lower compartment with an excess amount of cleansingliquid which, as said compartment rises in the rotation of the rotor,drains through the inner walls of said compartments upon the compartmentor compartments therebelow. When a compartment nears the top of therotor, a portion o1' the cleansing liquid passes into the passagetherebelow, the rotation of the rotor causing such cleansing liquid thusdropping to contact the sides of said passages for again passing intolthe compartments therebelow through the holes in said sides.

My improved device provides i'or maximum passage and drainage of thecleansing liquid through the materials.

Upon reversal of rotation of the rotor the said actions take place inreverse directions.

The relative arrangement of the cross-sectional areas of the space inthe trough between the rotor and the bottom of the trough and of thepassages and indentations, the relative cubic contents of said spacesand said passages and indentations, and the compactness of packing ofthe material in the compartments, compel the cleansing iluid to passthrough the material, and

enhance the eiectiveness of the actions hereinbefore described and aidin thorough and quick cleansing of the material, which is furtherenhanced by rotation of the material `containing rotor at highperipheral speed.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new, anddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a casing,a rotor therein, trunnions on the ends of said rotor for rotatinglysupporting said rotor in said casing, said rotor comprising a pluralityof radially arranged compartments, `said respective compartments havingWalls at the respective sides thereof, adjacent walls of proximatecompartments spaced apart and forming radial spaces between saidcompartments, said compartments extending toward but spaced slightlyfrom the axis of rotation of said rotor, and said spaces connecting ldirectly and unobstructedly with each other across said axis, saidadjacent walls being pertorate for the passage of cleansing liquid fromsaid radial spaces into said compartments and between compartmentsthrough said radial spaces, and means for rotating said rotor.`

2. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a casing,a rotor therein. said rotor comprising a plurality of radially arrangedcompartments, said respective compartments having walls at therespective sides thereof, the adjacent walls of proximate compartmentsforming radial spaces between said compartments, said compartmentsextending toward but spaced slightly from the axis of rotation of saidrotor, and alined spaced apart outwardly extending trunnions at therespective ends of said rotor tor rotatively supporting said rotor, saidradial spaces connecting with each other directly and unobstructedlyacross said axis of rotation substantially throughout the length of saidrotor.

3. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a casing,a rotor therein, said rotor comprising a plurality of radially arrangedcompartments spaced apart radially by radial spaces, the radial spacesbetween compartmentsl connected directly and unobstructedlysubstantially throughout the length of said rotor across the axis ofsaid rotor and forming unobstructed passage for cleansing liquid acrosssaid axis substantially throughout the length of said rotor, the frontand rear walls of said spaces being pertorate for passage of cleansingliquid from said radial spaces sidewardly into said compartments and outof said compartments into said radial spaces and between compartmentsthrough said radial spaces, and said compartments comprising imperforateend walls, and means for rotating sal rotor in steps of a series ofrevolutions sequentially in reverse directions.

4. In a machine of the character described, the combination of a casing,a rotor therein, said rotor comprising a plurality of radially arrangedcompartments and respectively having walls at the respective sidesthereof, neighboring ones of said walls converging toward each other andforming narrow radial spaces between compartments, said compartmentsextending to substantially the axis of rotation of said rotor, saidradial spaces contracting toward said axis, the radial spaces betweencompartments connected unobstructedly across the axis of said rotorsubstantially throughout the length of said rotor for formingunobstructed passage for the cleansing liquid past said axissubstantially throughout the length of said rotor, said neighboringwalls of said spaces being perforate for the passage of cleansing liquidfrom said radial spaces sidewardly into said compartments and out ofsaid compartments into saidradial spaces and between compartmentsthrough said radial spaces, and said compartments comprising imperforateend walls, the outer peripheries of said compartments provided withopenings, arcuate doors for said openings, and arcuate guides on saidrotor for guiding the said doors in arcuate directions across saidopenings.

HARVEY C. HUBBELL.

